moving n-vi to a cupboard behind the TV
Posted by: School Bully on 02 January 2014
I'm thinking of moving my Naim n-vi, Apple TV, Virgin Media Box and Sonos Connect to a cupboard in another room which is just behind the TV.
I will be able to run video / speaker cables right through the wall behind the TV, but I would like a good way to control the Naim, Apple TV and Virgin Media box.
I was thinking of getting an IR extender, but wanted to check any possibilities with the RC5 connector on the Naim. Are there any good options here?
Would be especially interested if there were an option for feedback on what source the N-VI is listening on, or whether there are good iPad options for controlling all of these devices from an IR extender.
Mark.
Posted on: 02 January 2014 by Mike1380
This isn't so much a direct answer as a few handy hints based on my own experiences.
1). If your Virgin box is a Tivo, you can set the Tivo remote up with "split Av" codes so it can work the Tivo box, power up/down the TV, change TV inputs, and control the n-Vi Volume & mute. This allows you to minimise your remote count by one as the TV remote can be taken out of the loop for everyday use.
2). If you have a TV supporting optical out, you can let the TV act as a switching box to the n-Vi by simply running Apple TV and Virgin box HDMI in, and letting the n-Vi just work with the screen feeding out digital audio from whichever source you selected. Couple this with setting all unused inputs on the n-Vi To "off" whilst renaming the enabled inputs, thus you can narrow your inputs to "disc" "mp3 player" (or similar for Sonos)and "tv". Then it's only a toggle option and a 33/67 chance of being on the correct input anyway. Once you know which input number you've tagged to which input you can directly select in the following manner... Press AV button on n-Vi Remote and the following numbers work with the following inputs:
1 Disc
2 DAB (if tuner module fitted)
3 FM ( as above)
4 Digital 1 (optical)
5 Digital 2 (coax)
6 Digital 3 (coax)
7 Analogue 1 (DIN)
8 Analogue 2 (2 RCA)
9 Analogue 3 (2 RCA)
Renaming/Setting above inputs on/off is easiest on"front panel setup mode". Press and hold setup button until setup menu appears on n-Vi display panel, move down to "input labels", and now you can select names/off for all inputs. Press "setup" on remote again to exit this mode.
3). There are direct codes available for a programmed remote to take you to any given input, (obviously won't take you to an input marked as "off" if you do as suggested above) , and also for any of the 6 audio processing models (PLII Music, PLII Movie, Neo6Music, Neo6 Cinema, Auto, Mono).
Working with these codes (I know there's a PDF download, but not sure if it's still on Naim's download site, you might need to email Steve Hopkins for a link), you should be able to use a programmable remote with an ir distribution receiver to do what you want. With direct codes for inputs, and minimisation of the inputs, the need for feedback as to the n-Vi's status should be greatly reduced.
I did muck around with this on my system a while back. There are some issues with certain ir dongles in that an n-Vi "can" accept ir signals via the RCA control bud input socket, but these signals can be either "modulated" or "demodulated". The n-Vi only works with one type and I cannot remember which.
Personally I stopped using a programmed remote when I found I could just use the Tivo remote and my Naim Flash2 to work the whole system.
If I were to go back into this I'd probably look seriously at a a Logitech Harmony Ultimate.
It should offer all the Macros you need, can ( set up, from what I've seen), to cope with all my suggestions above, comes with an ir blaster to sort out your proposed system move, and had an app for IOS so that you can use an ipad.
I hope all of the above helps. I know the suggestion of using the TV as a digital audio input selector suggests a reduction in quality by means of adding more links in the chain, but I've been using my kit this way for two years and it sounds great.
All the best
Mike
1). If your Virgin box is a Tivo, you can set the Tivo remote up with "split Av" codes so it can work the Tivo box, power up/down the TV, change TV inputs, and control the n-Vi Volume & mute. This allows you to minimise your remote count by one as the TV remote can be taken out of the loop for everyday use.
2). If you have a TV supporting optical out, you can let the TV act as a switching box to the n-Vi by simply running Apple TV and Virgin box HDMI in, and letting the n-Vi just work with the screen feeding out digital audio from whichever source you selected. Couple this with setting all unused inputs on the n-Vi To "off" whilst renaming the enabled inputs, thus you can narrow your inputs to "disc" "mp3 player" (or similar for Sonos)and "tv". Then it's only a toggle option and a 33/67 chance of being on the correct input anyway. Once you know which input number you've tagged to which input you can directly select in the following manner... Press AV button on n-Vi Remote and the following numbers work with the following inputs:
1 Disc
2 DAB (if tuner module fitted)
3 FM ( as above)
4 Digital 1 (optical)
5 Digital 2 (coax)
6 Digital 3 (coax)
7 Analogue 1 (DIN)
8 Analogue 2 (2 RCA)
9 Analogue 3 (2 RCA)
Renaming/Setting above inputs on/off is easiest on"front panel setup mode". Press and hold setup button until setup menu appears on n-Vi display panel, move down to "input labels", and now you can select names/off for all inputs. Press "setup" on remote again to exit this mode.
3). There are direct codes available for a programmed remote to take you to any given input, (obviously won't take you to an input marked as "off" if you do as suggested above) , and also for any of the 6 audio processing models (PLII Music, PLII Movie, Neo6Music, Neo6 Cinema, Auto, Mono).
Working with these codes (I know there's a PDF download, but not sure if it's still on Naim's download site, you might need to email Steve Hopkins for a link), you should be able to use a programmable remote with an ir distribution receiver to do what you want. With direct codes for inputs, and minimisation of the inputs, the need for feedback as to the n-Vi's status should be greatly reduced.
I did muck around with this on my system a while back. There are some issues with certain ir dongles in that an n-Vi "can" accept ir signals via the RCA control bud input socket, but these signals can be either "modulated" or "demodulated". The n-Vi only works with one type and I cannot remember which.
Personally I stopped using a programmed remote when I found I could just use the Tivo remote and my Naim Flash2 to work the whole system.
If I were to go back into this I'd probably look seriously at a a Logitech Harmony Ultimate.
It should offer all the Macros you need, can ( set up, from what I've seen), to cope with all my suggestions above, comes with an ir blaster to sort out your proposed system move, and had an app for IOS so that you can use an ipad.
I hope all of the above helps. I know the suggestion of using the TV as a digital audio input selector suggests a reduction in quality by means of adding more links in the chain, but I've been using my kit this way for two years and it sounds great.
All the best
Mike
Posted on: 06 January 2014 by GreenAlex
I think there are proper repeaters that use wifi or some other mid-range system. you then use your ordinary remote and point it at a small receiver which then transmitts the signal to the emitter in another room.
never tried them myself but should work.
harmony remotes also sometimes come with a small receiver/emitter that allows you to stroe devices in a cupboard. the remote uses rf or something rather than just ir and can therefor penetrate wood.
but in your case i assume it would have to pass trough walls? so you would need something stronger.
a 30sec google search found the "X10 Powermid PM5900 Remote Control Extender Kit".
but I'm guessing you could find something less ugly if you do a proper search. but they hardly cost anything. far cheaper than a harmony remote.
just google "remote control extender".
also nifty, but i doubt it works: http://www.amazon.de/Cablesson...ote+control+extender
apparently uses your hdmi cable to send the ir signal. would not waste energy because those ir extenders of course will consume power. unless you hook it all up to remote controlable outlets... which themselves consume power and are not recommended at all with naim gear.
so many options :-D
never tried them myself but should work.
harmony remotes also sometimes come with a small receiver/emitter that allows you to stroe devices in a cupboard. the remote uses rf or something rather than just ir and can therefor penetrate wood.
but in your case i assume it would have to pass trough walls? so you would need something stronger.
a 30sec google search found the "X10 Powermid PM5900 Remote Control Extender Kit".
but I'm guessing you could find something less ugly if you do a proper search. but they hardly cost anything. far cheaper than a harmony remote.
just google "remote control extender".
also nifty, but i doubt it works: http://www.amazon.de/Cablesson...ote+control+extender
apparently uses your hdmi cable to send the ir signal. would not waste energy because those ir extenders of course will consume power. unless you hook it all up to remote controlable outlets... which themselves consume power and are not recommended at all with naim gear.
so many options :-D